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Kitchen Faucet Buying Tips
A durable and stylish kitchen faucet or bath faucet blends
together function and aesthetics. The well made faucet makes
life a lot easier. Excellent valve mechanism and more durable
finishes boost longevity and looks.
Here are six steps in choosing the right faucet for you:
1. Two-handle designs, generally goes for as low as $50, allows
you to regulate the temperature more accurately. Having
independent control for the hot and cold water makes adjusting
the temperature easier.
The single handle faucets also known as post-mount, generally
goes for $75 to $200, operate from side-mounted lever or a
top-mounted knob. Most single-handle faucets have pullout
spouts.
The cross-shaped design and large wing levers are the more
popular designs. However, most faucets have different handles
that can be attached to a faucet body for a customized look.
2. If the style of the faucet is important, begin your choosing
with the type of finish. The most affordable finish for a faucet
is a chrome finish. Usually priced around $60. The chrome-finish
has a long warranty on scratches.
The more colorful enamel coatings generally will cost you from
$20 to $200 more, and are more susceptible to scratches and
chipping. Add 25 to 40 percent more to the price of coated
faucets for stainless steel faucets.
3. A PVD (physical vapor deposition) finish is better than usual
plated finishes but add $150 to $750 more in costs. The PVD
finish is done by vaporizing the metal and glazing it with a
scratch-resistant and non-tarnishing film.
Look at brushed chrome, oil-rubbed bronze and satin nickel for a
rustic appeal. The brushed finish and satin finish cleverly
hides scratches.
4. There are more to spouts aside from the standard straight
faucets. There are high-arching goose-like spouts, great for
filling pots. A pull-out faucet can get you anywhere in a sink
with three-bowls. You can go from a spray mode to a stream mode
with a touch. There are also restaurant-type models for those
extra long hoses.
5. Know that there are four kinds of faucets.
a. The compression valve:
The compression valve uses rubber washers. The compression valve
type of faucet will eventually leak but they are typically easy
to repair.
b. The ball valves:
The ball valve controls the flow and temperature of the water by
using a steel ball. The ball valves are washerless and easy to
maintain because of this. Replacing a ball valve is readily
affordable and easy to do.
c. The ceramic disk
The ceramic disk is virtually a maintenance free water faucet.
It is guaranteed not to wear out but is obviously much more
expensive than the ball valve or compression valve.
d. The cartridge faucet
Much like the ceramic disk, the cartridge faucet usually does
not need any maintenance. Just like the ceramic disk, it has a
hefty price tag.
Regardless of the type of faucet you choose. Always check the
warranty and the finish.
6. You may opt for filtering faucets, costing $200 plus, to
bring in purified water. Several filters are placed under the
sink while others are fitted inside the spout. To set the
maximum water temperature, an anti-scald faucet can be used. An
electronic faucet with an infrared sensor is also available.
They save on water and allow for cleaner handles.
In general, you don't need to hand over your hard earned money
to pay for good quality. Most faucets have the same basic parts
and sometimes even the same finish across several price lines.
To have a streamlined, urban look, choose a faucet that is
mounted on the wall, this is often used with vanity bowls.
Be sure that your faucet connection matches your sink holes. If
they don't match, you'll have to provide more drill holes or
cover the unused holes using an escutcheon plate.
All faucets in general carry at least one year warranties. Even
the low-end models carry at least one year of warranty. Many
faucets carry a warranty by the manufacturer that is more than
one year.
Good luck choosing the perfect faucet for you.
About the author:
For more great faucet information and resources check out: http://www.elegantfaucets.i
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